General News
6 November, 2023
Community service to mark Remembrance Day
As Remembrance Day draws closer, marking a time of reflection, residents are being encouraged to honour the nation’s heroes in the coming days. Serving as an annual commemoration of the sacrifices made by Australians in the First World War —...
As Remembrance Day draws closer, marking a time of reflection, residents are being encouraged to honour the nation’s heroes in the coming days.
Serving as an annual commemoration of the sacrifices made by Australians in the First World War — Remembrance Day 2023 will mark 105 years since the conclusion of the harrowing four-year long conflict on November 11, 1918.
Since then, countries across the world have embraced the day to pay their respects to those who served and sacrificed their lives not only in the First World War, but the wars to follow.
This Saturday, all locals are urged to pause and observe a minute’s silence at 11 am, with the time signifying the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front — on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, after Germany signed the Armistice which brought the war to an end.
According to Maryborough RSL sub branch vice president Ben Holscher, it’s important to take time out to remember the service and sacrifice of those who have lost their lives in wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations.
“We need to reflect on what they went through — they were all volunteering and we’ve got to respect that so we like to see as many people as we can on the day,” he said.
“As the older generation, we need to also pass this on to the younger ones and remind them how lucky they are.
“I hope that one day, we’ll only be talking about wars in classrooms as part of the history lessons and not in current affairs.”
For fellow veteran and Maryborough RSL sub branch member Lee Turton, it is vital that this tradition is carried on by local youth in the coming years.
“It’s something that can’t be forgotten and the way to ensure that is to make it stronger in the education system,” he said.
“The younger generation needs to understand what the young people back then went through — they should attend the service and it’ll let them appreciate the world they live in today.
“I think the more local attendance we have, it makes us feel like what we did is being acknowledged. Even if people can’t physically attend, they can still pause and reflect.”
RSL members will be selling poppies and badges outside newxpress in High Street and in front of Woolworths from tomorrow until Friday, November 10, from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm each day.
The Remembrance Day service will be held at the Soldiers’ Memorial Plot in Majorca Road from 10.45 am this Saturday.